Thayer School

GETTING the usual jump on the rest of the College, even including the football squad, the second-year Thayers returned to Hanover on August 23 for the 1950 summer session. The group this year includes eight civil engineering students, four electricals, seven mechanicals, and six Tuck-Thayers. The first-year students, numbering thirty, start classes with the opening of the fall semester on September 27. At the time this is written only one prospective student has had to withdraw for military service, John Sirois '5l who was called to active duty in the Marine Air Corps. It is quite possible that two or three others may drop out by the time classes begin.

The faculty remains intact this year with one exception, Rexford Moulton, who resigned at the end of the last school year to accept a position with the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, where he will be engaged in research and development work. Rex came to Thayer School during World War II and was largely responsible for the establishment of the internal combustion engine and fuel-testing laboratories during our postwar expansion.

Millett G. Morgan, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, has been appointed Director of Research for the School. Millett's ionospheric research project, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, passed the instrumentation stage with the erection in June of a 100-foot transmitting tower at the field site in Etna. The transmitting and reception of radio signals to study the polarization of waves in the ionosphere is now going forth as planned. The establishment of self-support- ing research projects of similar size in the fields of civil, mechanical, and possibly industrial engineering appears to be a desirable objective for the School. Professor Morgan's proved capabilities for both administering and conducting research and his wide acquaintance within the research "fraternity" qualify him ideally for directing the activities of the School in this area of work.

Donald L. Pyke has been appointed Instructor in Applied Mechanics and Assistant to the Dean. A graduate of Purdue University, where he has taught since 1947, Don moved to Hanover the first of July. After serving as a navigator in the Army Air Corps during World War 11, he was a college representative for John Wiley Sons for two years before returning to his alma mater as an instructor. Since reaching Hanover, the Pyke family has been increased to four by the arrival on August 10 of a daughter, Susan Lynn.

Another arrivial in the Thayer School family during the summer was Robin Strout Taylor. Father George has held the position of Assistant Professor of Engineering and Management since 1949. During the "waiting period" he attended many of the sessions of Tuck School's conference for management consultants and spent one week at Dr. Mogenson's Lake Placid Work Simplification Conference.

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Dunham DC '39 welcomed the arrival during the summer of a son, David Van Kleeck. Dick continues as Technician on our ONR project staff.

Bob Paulson '49 resigned his position as Staff Engineer on the ONR project last June to accept a position on the television program staff of Fred Waring's orchestra.

Ray Evans '50 has been appointed Research Associate on the ONR project for the current year.

A welcome addition to the Thayer School plant and staff was made this summer in the form of the Department of Engineering and Graphics and in the person of Prof. Peter S.Dow 'll. The facilities of the department were moved into our Room 103 in July and henceforth all graphics instruction will be given at Thayer School. Pete Dow continues as chairman of the Department with the title of Professor of Graphics and Engineering, which he has held for many years, but with his office in Thayer School he has become also a member of our faculty in recognition of which he has been named by the Trustees, Professor of Engineering Drawing on the Thayer School faculty.

John P. Hatch, appointed Instructor in Mechanical Engineering in 1949, has been promoted to Assistant Professor. In addition to other teaching assignments, John is in charge of instruction in machine design. During the 1950 summer session, he was in charge of the mechanical engineering course in Manufacturing Processes.

Ed Brown '35 spent the summer on the staff of the New Hampshire Public Health Department before returning in August to direct the civil engineering course in Advanced Surveying and Project Design.

John Hirst '39 spent the summer in Hanover on a special assignment for the Navy making a rather elaborate "attack teacher installation in special rooms on the ground floor of Reed Hall for the use of the Naval Science Department. In August, John moved his family into his newly completed home on Valley Road.

Ed Sherrard, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, indulged his avocation during the summer as the violinist member of the newly formed Dartmouth Trio. The Trio gave a series of concerts in Hanover and several New England resort centers and received highly favorable press notices. The Sherrards moved into permanent quarters on East Wheelock Street where they have been living through extensive remodeling operations.

Joe Ermenc, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, returned to Hanover the first of August from his sabbatical leave, having spent several weeks in England and on the European continent. His visits to technical institutes and industrial plants while abroad have provided him with experience and points of view which are as interesting as they will be valuable in his engineering courses.

At the annual meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education held in Seattle last June, the Society accepted Dartmouth's invitation to hold its 1952 annual meeting in Hanover. This occasion, which will bring some two thousand engineering administrators and teachers to Hanover from every engineering school in the country, will provide a fine opportunity for these people to be introduced to Thayer School's engineering facilities and program.

Having disposed herein of the major summer news from the School area, next month's column will be devoted to alumni news.